MLB Player News

Sandlin (2-1) walked two and struck out one in a scoreless inning to earn the win in Game 2 of Wednesday's doubleheader versus the Padres.

Sandlin had only one out with the bases loaded before getting Austin Nola to ground into a double play. Steven Kwan then hit a walkoff single in the bottom of the 10th. Sandlin hasn't often seen his control escape him as it did Wednesday, but he was able to get away with it this time. The reliever has a 4.15 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 6:4 K:BB across 8.2 innings.

Otto will start Friday's series opener against the Yankees in New York, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Heading into the week, Otto was initially lined up to start Tuesday in Philadelphia, but he ended up getting pushed back a few days in the pitching schedule after Jon Gray (knee) was cleared to return from the 10-day injured list. The Rangers had a pair of off days this week that will result in the team temporarily going with a four-man rotation, but Otto will be able to stick in a starting role over Taylor Hearn, who will be available out of the bullpen for the weekend series in New York. Otto will look to keep rolling against the Yankees after he struck out 10 while giving up three earned runs on six hits and three walks over 9.1 innings between his first two starts of the season.

Hearn will be available out of the bullpen for this weekend's three-game series against the Yankees before potentially slotting back into the rotation Tuesday or Wednesday versus Kansas City, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

With Jon Gray (knee) having made his return from the injured list and the Rangers getting two days off this week, the Rangers will temporarily run out a four-man rotation. Hearn finds himself as the odd man out for now, but assuming he isn't needed to cover a significant amount of innings this weekend, he should be ready to slot back into the rotation against the Royals. Through his five starts this season, Hearn has gone 1-2 with a 6.53 ERA and 1.84 WHIP across 20.2 innings.

Hader said he's no longer experiencing mid-back spasms and will be available out of the bullpen for Thursday's series finale with the Reds, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

The Brewers have stayed away from Hader since April 27 while he tended to the injury, allowing Devin Williams to temporarily step in as the team's closer. In spite of the missed time, Hader still enters Thursday's action tied for second in the majors with 10 saves on the season. The three-time All-Star should immediately reclaim closing duties now that he's healthy again.

Ortega pitched 2.1 scoreless innings against Boston on Wednesday, allowing one hit and striking out two. He did not factor in the decision.

Reid Detmers started for the Angels and completed 4.2 frames before Ortega was summoned with the Red Sox up a run in the fifth. The latter got Xander Bogaerts to ground out to end the inning, and he went on to pitch two more frames, allowing just a harmless single. This was the fifth time in nine outings this season during which Ortega has thrown at least two innings, and he hasn't allowed a run since his first appearance of the campaign. The right-hander has posted a 1.23 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 10:6 K:BB across 14.2 frames, though he has limited value in fantasy since he has yet to pick up any holds or saves.

Barlow earned the save during Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Phillies by allowing one unearned run during the 10th inning. He struck out two and didn't record a walk.

The two teams were held scoreless through nine innings, but the Rangers claimed a two-run lead in the top of the 10th thanks a two-run single by Brad Miller. Barlow didn't allow a ball out of the infield during the bottom half of the inning, but Jean Segura -- who started the inning on second -- came around to score on a Odubel Herrera groundout after advancing to third when Didi Gregorius struck out to start the inning. Barlow has recorded saves in three straight appearances and currently sports a 2.16 ERA with a 12:1 K:BB.

Barnes (0-2) was tagged with the loss Wednesday, allowing four runs (three earned) on two hits and one walk over two-thirds of an inning in a 10-5 defeat to the Angels in 10 innings.

Barnes entered to start the 10th inning and retired the first two batters before Taylor Ward took him deep. A Mike Trout single and Shohei Ohtani walk ensued and Barnes was removed, but those runs came across to score with Hirokazu Sawamura on the mound. In all, Boston relievers allowed seven runs (two home runs) over the final two innings and blew their league-leading fifth save. Barnes' ERA climbed to 8.64 this season, and he has a 6.92 ERA since he signed an extension with the club in 2021.

Martin allowed two runs on three hits and four walks while striking out three over four relief innings in Wednesday's 8-7 win over Miami.

Martin didn't wake up knowing he'd be the bulk-inning pitcher Wednesday, but he was needed after Madison Bumgarner was ejected after the first inning. Forced to warm up on short notice, Martin walked two and gave up a single to the first three batters faced, and the first two runners eventually scored. The right-hander settled in after that, providing critical relief and allowing Arizona's bats to impact the game. It was the fourth time in five outings that Martin has thrown two innings or more.

Bard earned the save against the Nationals on Wednesday, pitching a perfect ninth inning during which he struck out two batters.

Bard's inning got off to a promising start when he struck out Juan Soto, and the reliever closed things out from there by retiring the next two batters. The Rockies' closing situation wasn't set in stone entering the season, but Bard has run with the position by converting seven of eight opportunities. His numbers certainly look like those of a dominant closer, as he has posted a 2.00 ERA, 0.56 WHIP and 13:0 K:BB across nine innings.

Sims gave up five runs in two-thirds of inning during Wednesday's 18-4 loss to the Brewers. He gave up one hit while walking four batters.

Sims was in a "get-work" outing, having last pitched Saturday and then five days prior to that. If the Reds beat the odds and actually have a save chance Thursday, there's a reasonable likelihood that Sims won't be available after throwing 34 pitches Wednesday.